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Oscar Winning actress, Hilary Swank, was recently in Bucharest fighting for the stray dogs of Romania and supporting the efforts of the animal welfare foundation Vier Pfoten. Vier Pfoten has set up projects that encourage interaction between stray dogs and institutionalized people. The fight over what to do with stray dogs in Bucharest has caused fierce debate. Over 35,000 strays walk the streets. Some want the dogs euthanized, others want the dogs put into shelters, and others want the strays sterilized. Swank believes that sterilizing the street dogs and using them to help disadvantaged people is the best way to fight for the dogs. She plans to utilize this method in the U.S. with her charity called Hilaroo. Her charity, which is partially named after her late dog, Karoo, will bring children and animals together.

Sharon Osbourne, host of the daytime talk show "The Talk," is serious about being fur-free. She was recently spotted outside of Intermix with a sign that read: "I will Not shop at Intermix until they go Fur-Free!" Osbourne was helping out Fur Free Los Angeles with the organization's protest against Intermix' use of fur. The host of "The Talk" has been fur-free since 2010 when she donated her old furs to PETA. Since that time she has been an anti-fur advocate. Intermix sells many different furs including fox fur, rabbit fur, raccoon fur, and coyote fur. This isn’t the first time that Osbourne has taken up a fight against those who are pro-fur. In 2010, she made comments about Louis Vuitton handbag accessories on twitter that cause an uproar of support from anti-fur advocates.

Two dominant males of the notorious Smitswinkel baboon troop are to be caught and put down in line with a recommendation made to CapeNature by the Baboon Conservation Authority. Force and Merlin are part of the troop in the Simon's Town area known for raiding cars and stealing food from motorists and tourists. City council vet Elzette Jordan says she has also found that Force and Merlin have become emboldened and dangerous enough to justify their being put down. However, Jenni Trethowan of the Baboon Matters Trust says the proposal to put down the baboons has been "badly thought out". More needed to be done to educate people about how to act around baboons, while spot fines for people who did not comply with the rules could also be considered. Critics argue that the root of the problem is people who feed baboons or roll down their windows and act inappropriately around the troop.

Over a thousand doctors in China have signed a pledge not to prescribe bear bile to their patients. The doctors were attending the 8th Shanghai International Forum of Infection Control (SIFIC) which took place in Shandong province. The pledge cards were produced by Animals Asia, the animal welfare group that campaigns to end bear bile farming, and the only organization with a bear sanctuary in China. The Animals Asia team has been rescuing bears from the bear bile industry since 1994. Animals Asia met with doctors at the event and provided information on the cruelty involved in the bear farming industry, and the potential health risks for patients of taking infected bile.

Lonesome George, the last surviving Pinta Island giant tortoise, has died at his home in the Galapagos Islands. Scientists believe he was more than 100 years old. Staff at the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador say George, the only remaining member of his subspecies (Chelonoidis abingdoni), was found dead by his long-term keeper, Fausto Llerena. A post-mortem examination will be carried out to ascertain the cause of death, as although he was old by human standards, Lonesome George was not considered old for a giant tortoise - the animals can live to around 200 years of age. George became a symbol of the Galapagos Islands after he was found on Pinta Island by biologist Joseph Vagvolgyi in 1971.

Venezuela set forth a series of measures this week to protect sharks within its waters. Most significantly, commercial shark fishing is now prohibited throughout the 3,730 square kilometers (1,440 square miles) of the Caribbean Sea that make up the popular Los Roques and Las Aves archipelagos, whose pristine beaches and coral reefs make it a diving and fishing attraction. Scientists have identified Los Roques, located about 128 kilometers (80 miles) off the Venezuelan coast, as an important breeding ground and nursery for populations of several species of sharks, including the lemon shark and the Caribbean reef shark.

In a news conference held on day two, Goodwill Ambassador and actor, Edward Norton, attributed the lack of awareness to the fact that many people do not feel the immediate effects of species extinction, but the effects are there, nonetheless. "Loss of biodiversity is a very difficult form of environmental degradation for people to wrap their minds around. They don't see species disappearing in front of them in a short time-frame. They don't necessarily see and feel every day their reliance on biodiversity." The actor went onto to explain how people often don't realize how biodiversity touches their daily lives. He outlined that it is his role as goodwill ambassador to show the link between human survival and our reliance on the planet's many other animals and plant species.

In a news conference held on day two, Goodwill Ambassador and actor, Edward Norton, attributed the lack of awareness to the fact that many people do not feel the immediate effects of species extinction, but the effects are there, nonetheless. "Loss of biodiversity is a very difficult form of environmental degradation for people to wrap their minds around. They don't see species disappearing in front of them in a short time-frame. They don't necessarily see and feel every day their reliance on biodiversity." The actor went onto to explain how people often don't realize how biodiversity touches their daily lives. He outlined that it is his role as goodwill ambassador to show the link between human survival and our reliance on the planet's many other animals and plant species.

At the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development the Maldives has unveiled plans to turn its islands into the world's largest marine reserve. According to the Global Post, all 1,192 islands will be a reserve by the year 2017. "I would like to announce today Maldives will become the first country to become a marine reserve. It will become the single largest marine reserve in the world. This policy will allow only sustainable and eco-friendly fishing. It will exclude deep-sea, purse-seining and other destructive techniques," announced President Mohamed Waheed. The Baa Atoll, consisting of 75 Maldives islands is already a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, but Waheed believes the whole country can become a protected area for ocean life.

At a fundraising party several days ago in Malibu to support Captain Paul Watson and his fight against extradition to Costa Rica, producer Sam Simon told the crowd that he will fully fund another ship for the SSCS fleet. "I think this is the year we are going to end whaling once and for all," Simon told the crowd. "He said they needed something fast, and they needed something with a reinforced hull to battle the Japanese," Simon said jokingly. "So next whaling season - if there is one, we're not sure - the 'Sam Simon' will be bashing through ice, and hopefully we can end the atrocity of whaling in the southern ocean forever."

You may know Jared Leto as an actor, but he is also an accomplished musician. As the lead singer of 30 Seconds to Mars, he has created great music, and now his band is giving back to a variety of environmental causes. If you're a huge fan or just want to see how a music video is made, Leto and his band are giving you just that kind of opportunity for their music video "A Beautiful Lie." All you have to do is pay $4.99 to see how they put it together, and your payment goes directly to an important environmental cause. Leto's video, more of a short film, was actually shot 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle to educate others about global warming. Throughout the entire video, different facts pop up on the screen detailing the important eco-issue that has caused so much damage to our planet. If you decide to donate, you can see behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with the band and production crew and of course the video itself.

Scott Jurek likes to run. As in hundreds of miles. Back in 2010 he set a new American record by running over 165 miles during the grueling World 24-Hour Championship run in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France. He came in second. While training, the 38-year-old consumes a whopping 5,000-8,000 plant-based calories a day. In a new article on HuffPo, Jurek reveals a bit about the road that led him to his currently vegan lifestyle – and the moment he realized how powerful it all was. The full article is a great read – especially when you realize that Jurek was once a "Grill Master" and a hunter who loved "roast pork, baked chicken and broiled steak."

Actor Josh Duhamel is ready to "transform" the lives of adoptable companion animals, and he's partnered with a major nonprofit to do so. Phoenix-based PetSmart Charities has worked hard for more than a decade to promote companion animals adoption, and their efforts have seriously paid off. With the recent adoption of Dodge, a 5-year-old husky in Florida, PetSmart has successfully placed 5 million animals in forever homes. To celebrate the milestone adoption, the charity has teamed up with Duhamel for the High-Five for Pet Adoption campaign, which "aims to boost awareness of dog and cat adoption and raise $250,000 for the organization, funds that would help save 10,000 homeless cats and dogs." Duhamel became personally involved in the adoption process six years ago, when he brought home a pooch named Meatloaf. Sadly, Meatloaf passed away a few weeks ago from a brain disorder, but Duhamel is happy to have been able to give him a good home for a few years.

India's tiger fatalities are rising steadily. The country has lost 48 tigers in the last 22 weeks. The largest number of tigers have been killed in the premier Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand and in the Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has confirmed that 19 of these deaths are clear-cut cases of poaching but wildlife experts claim poaching deaths could be much higher. The The National Tiger Conservation Authority has launched a detailed security plan for these tiger reserves and already thermal cameras have been operationalised in the southern part of Corbett National Park. The situation is spinning out of control because of the rising demand for tiger parts across Asia.

Ian Somerhalder called for support of Sea Shepherd’s Captain Paul Watson. The actor and U.N. Goodwill Ambassador tweeted to his more than 2 million followers, "Had great meeting w/Cap Paul Watson of @SeaShepherd -I adore this man&his org.He needs some help&I need you guys to help me-No $ just tweets." The star of "The Vampire Diaries" met with Watson at Germany's BloodyCon vampire conference, where Watson was speaking. Watson is still in Germany where he must remain until his extradition to Costa Rica is decided. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder/president was arrested in Frankfurt last month on a warrant based on an initiative against illegal shark finning in 2002, a campaign featured in the documentary Sharkwater. Somerhalder isn't the only celeb to speak out in Watson's defense. The Red Hot Chili Peppers and champion surfer Kelly Slater have called for his immediate release, and Alicia Silverstone sent out an urgent call for support on her blog The Kind Life. Long-time friend of Watson and Sea Shepherd supporter Brigitte Bardot even offered to take his place in prison.

Farm Sanctuary just cut the ribbon on a gorgeous new animal hospital. Called "The Melrose Small Animal Hospital," the new building (located near its Watkins Glen facility) will treat sick and injured animals in need of emergency care, such as IVs, oxygen therapy, and minor surgeries. The new facility will allow rescued animals to bypass veterinary hospitals, "sparing them the stress of travel at an already painful and frightening time." And it's high-tech too. Training cameras and viewing areas will allow FS to share farm animal care strategies with other sanctuaries and vet students across the nation.

When the dog from Ghana didn't come home one evening, the owner sent out a search party to find the missing canine. They tracked him through fields and forests, perhaps worried that he might be injured or worse. What they didn't expect to find was the dog snuggled up against a newborn human baby underneath a bridge. One can only assume the pup came across the abandoned child the previous evening, and, seeing that he was unattended, decided to stay and keep the child safe. By doing this, the dog also ensured that the baby was found by those who could do more than lick his face clean. Besides for an infection around his uncut umbilical cord, the baby seems to be in good health. No word on who the parents are or why they abandoned him, but he's now in the care of of a local health directorate.

Eco-warrior Ian Somerhalder is at it again! Not only is he doing everything he can to get his animal sanctuary off the ground, but Somerhalder also returned to politics this week. Last year, he spoke to Congress about species conservation, and now Somerhalder has gone straight to the top - meeting with President Obama. Yahoo! reports that a handful of young celebs, including Dianna Agron, Sophia Bush and Anna Kendrick, also met with the president.

Canadian environmentalists celebrate a victory, as Toronto City Council votes to ban all plastic bags by January 1, 2013. Mayor Rob Ford had pressed the city council to remove the five-cent retail bag tax that has been in place for some time. The surprising move was the vote that followed moments later: to ban all plastic bags come the new year. This move puts Toronto in league with other major centres such as San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles, that have already implemented a ban on single-use plastic bags.

One vegan hockey player is challenging the stigma of being a vegan man and athlete. Mike Zigomanis of the Toronto Marlies says there are lots of athletes who don't eat meat, dairy, eggs or any animal products, and they don't fit the stereotypical image of a "vegan." According to Vegetarian Star, Zigomanis says "It's a stigma, I guess, when you’re a vegan and guys kind of label you. Hockey's a big, macho sport. And when people think of vegans... what do you think of when you think of vegans? You tell me. Long hair. Tie-dyed T-shirt." Zigomanis has even become a "nutritionist" of sorts for his teammates, who love their fast food. His coach Dallas Eakins shows support for his veg diet, saying "We're going to respect everybody's healthy diet, and it's something he believes in. He seems to have had a handle on it. He hasn't been any different than he has been in the past. He's an extremely fit guy, someone that we rely on heavily every night, and it seems like he hasn't missed a beat."

A long list of celebs have made the switch to a vegan diet due to concerns for their health. The latest celeb to talk about their vegan diet is Michelle Pfeiffer, who opened up to Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN. In the appearance on "Piers Morgan Tonight," Pfeiffer told Gupta that she decided to try a vegan diet after watching CNN's "The Last Heart Attack." The special discussed plant-based diets as a possible way to prevent heart disease and other conditions. The actress describes herself as a "foodie," but was hopeful after she heard Clinton wasn't struggling with his vegan diet. The actress says her health isn't the only reason for the new diet. "Vanity is right under there," she admits, "but I have to say that it's a close second with wanting to live long." Pfieffer's husband is also trying to eat vegan.

Leonardo DiCaprio has been a vocal part of the movement to ban the shark fin trade. He penned a letter to the California Senate in support of the bill that would ban shark fins in the state; the bill was passed into law in October. Now, the actor has called for support of New York's pending shark fin bill. The law would ban the possession, sale and trade of shark fins in New York. According to Oceana, the practice of shark finning is not only cruel, but it is driving some species of sharks to the brink of extinction. Sharks, as top predators of the sea, are vital to the health and balance of the oceans. New York would also be the first state on the East Coast to ban the shark fin trade. Currently, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington are the only U.S. states with bans in place.

Three-time Academy Award winning director Oliver Stone is joining the fight for animal rights by narrating PETA's shocking new exposé. Leaked footage reveals recent Coast Guard trauma training drill footage that shows instructors breaking and cutting the limbs off of live goats with tree trimming clippers, as well as stabbing the live animals and removing their organs. The goats, who have clearly not been sufficiently anesthetized, kick, squirm, and moan in pain during the training. The disturbing footage shows one instructor joking about writing a song about animal mutilation, and another whistling lightheartedly. More than 10,000 animals lose their lives in this type of training annually. PETA's exposé highlights the need for humane non-animal methods in US military trauma training, which are so efficacious that Congress has introduced legislation to phase out the use of animals, thereby saving animals' lives and improving training for US service members.

A stray dog in China has finally found a new home after following a team of cyclists for more than 1,100 miles. "She was lying, tired, on the street around Yajiang, Sichuan province," cyclist Zhang Heng, 22, told China Daily. "So we fed her, and then she followed our team." The small white dog, named Xiao Sa, followed the cyclists over 12 mountains and even caught a ride in one of the rider's baskets for parts of the 1,139-mile journey. Zhang says he would like to adopt Xiao Sa, who has more than 40,000 fans on a blog set up to chronicle her journey from Kangding, Sichuan province in China, to Lhasa, Tibet. "I would like to take the dog home and take care of her. She has been a stray on the road for a long time," Zhang said. "She needs a home." Another cyclist took Xiao Sa to a veterinarian for a checkup. "Everything is fine with her, including her nose, teeth. She's not affected by altitude sickness," veterinarian Yang Bo, told CNTV.

Health concerns prompted the government of Chile to close the country's largest pork processing plant and evacuate more than 500,000 pigs, according to news reports. A spokesman for Agrosuper, which owns the plant, said the pigs would be slaughtered and buried in specially prepared pits. The company said it would require 50,000 trucks to move the pigs, and no one was willing to take them. The trouble began a week ago when residents of the town of Freirina blocked access roads to the plant in protest of the foul smells emanating from the slaughterhouse. The protests turned violent, according to news reports, and hundreds of workers fled. Pigs started dying from starvation and dehydration after going without food and water for five days. The Chilean government declared a health emergency and ordered the plant closed indefinitely on fears waste could overflow into drinking water. The government also gave Agrosuper six months to evacuate the pigs.

The Indian state of Maharashtra has decided to fight for the tigers that are quickly disappearing from the land. Maharashtra has declared war on tiger poachers by giving liscensed wildlife rangers the authority to shoot the poaching pests on sight. The government has declared that killing suspected poachers would no longer be a crime, which for wildlife rangers means it is open season on tiger poachers. According to the Scotsman, Forest minister Patangrao Kadam said rangers should not be "booked for human rights violations when they have acted against poachers." The government is also increasing ranger patrols and offering payments up to five million rupees ($89,210 USD) to informants. The Indian state believes that the new orders will put the necessary fear into poachers to make them stop.

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Animal Friends is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 2001 with the aim to promote animal protection and animal rights as well as veganism, as ethical, ecological and healthy lifestyle.
Animal Friends Croatia is a member organization of EVU,
Eurogroup for Animals, ECEAE, FFA, IAFC and OIPA.